chatham liv in g
2017 issue | $5
ma ga zi n e
Diana Mendoza and Emy Rodas of the JordanMatthews Leos
lions and leos in siler oh my! walk through pittsboro’s street fair
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A Herald Community Publication with the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Chatham Economic Development Corp.
thousands are coming to chatham
5 burgers you really can’t miss snapshots of life in chatham
chatham living 2017 1
SERVING FAMILIES FOR OVER 45 YEARS www.PiedmontHealth.org
• Quality Care for All • Affordable Health Care Moncure Community Health Center 7228 Moncure-Pittsboro Road, Moncure, NC 27559
919-542-4991
• Comprehensive Services • Dental, Pharmacy & WIC Siler City Community Health Center 224 South 10th Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344
919-663-1744
Sylvan Community Health Center
Chapel Hill Community Health Center
7718 Sylvan Road, Snow Camp, NC 27349
1828 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514
336-506-0631
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Accepts most insurance
We offer an individualized plan of care managed on a daily basis by an interdisciplinary team of providers: a highly trained team of physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, nutritionists, recreational & rehabilitative therapists, transportation personnel, and home care coordinators.
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Bringing you in for the care you need, while keeping you safe in the home you love, Piedmont Health SeniorCare promotes and sustains the independence of seniors wishing to remain in the community.
Serving seniors in Chatham, Orange and Lee counties Access to care is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Toll-Free: Toll Free: 877-714-2100 877 714 2100 2 chatham living 2017
163 Chatham Business Dr., Pittsboro, NC 27312
www.PiedmontHealthSeniorCare.org P d H l hS C
CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DENNIS A. WICKER CIVIC CENTER
Central Carolina Community College offers a wide variety of programs at the Chatham Main Campus and the Siler City Center in Chatham County. Within these programs, students can earn associate degrees or college transfer credits, diplomas, or certificates. Some programs are offered entirely, or in part, via online distance education.
Central Carolina’s Premier Gathering Facility Your place for Tradeshows, Banquets, Concerts, Corporate Retreats, Weddings, Family Reunions, and more!
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SCOTT HARRIS 919-498-4077
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chatham living magazine 2017 a community publication of
The Sanford Herald with the Chatham Chamber of Commerce and Chatham Economic Development Corp.
Writer, Designer & Photo Contributor Chip Pate Publisher & Advertising Director Rachael Raney Editor Shawn Stinson Chief Photographer Matt Monarca Advertising Sales Staff Matt Dilworth, Erin Poe, Laura Powers Photo Contributors ECO CP Partners LLC, Fitch Creations Inc. Kirby Pate, Town Hall Burgers and Beer Chatham County has so much to offer, from talented artists and musicians, to fun shopping experiences that allow you to buy well and buy local, to some of the best food you will eat and charm that cannot be beat. It is the best of agriculture and agribusiness, wine, five-star stays and industry. The most wonderful asset Chatham has to offer is by far its people. Caring volunteers, friendly faces and a willingness to help each other in times of need is all engrained in the character of each and every town. No matter how long your stay — or if you have been here for a lifetime — there is always more to do, see, taste or experience. There is something for everyone, so I can proudly and honestly say I know you will enjoy Chatham County! Jessica Mashburn Executive Director, Chatham Chamber of Commerce
T he S anford H erald . 208 St. Clair Court, Sanford, NC, 27330, 919.708.9000 (phone); 919.708.9001 (fax); news@sanfordherald.com. To Advertise in Chatham Living. Contact Rachael Raney at 919.718.1234 (phone) or rraney@ sanfordherald.com.
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Copyright © 2017 by The Sanford Herald. All rights reserved.
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chatham living magazine 2017
CHATHAM LIVING FEATURES
5 burgers you can’t miss
synergy
pittsboro street fair
here they come!
If Chatham eateries do anything especially well, its got to be meat on a bun. } 6
Siler City Lions and the Jordan-Matthews Leo Club make quite a team. } 12
Photographer Matt Monarca takes you to the annual gathering. } 20
Chatham Park has finally opened, transforming the landscape. } 26
afternoon at the museum
coffee and connections
leg power
getting to carnegie hall
Andrey Urena leads his family on a walk through history. } 11
At Courtyard Cafe, a sense of community is brewing. } 19
A popular Farmers’ Day competition packs The Barn. } 25
Pitch Please prepares for the performance of a lifetime. } 30
SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE
chatham living 2017 5
Tristan Stuart, left, owner Claxton Johnson and Caemon Stuart behind the counter at Johnson’s in Siler City.
5 Burgers You Can’t Miss
I
f Chatham’s culinary scene does anything particularly well, it’s a burger. You can find great examples all over — from outstanding Carolina burgers at beloved standbys like Rufus’ Restaurant in Goldston and Chris’ Drive-In in Siler City to more offbeat and elaborate creations at some of the area’s new and upscale eateries. The problem with any list is finding a good balance of traditional and novel tastes, which is precisely what we’ve tried to do. So, we solicited recommendations, explored the culinary landscape and tasted way more burgers than we care to admit — all to assemble a menu of five burgers you really can’t miss.
Cheeseburger Johnson’s Drive-In
So, where do you start? On U.S. Highway 64 in Siler City — or East 11th Street, as it’s known to the locals — where Johnson’s Drive-In has spent more than seven decades in the same spot, serving some of the best burgers you’ll ever find. You don’t have to believe us. The
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landmark restaurant and its owner, Claxton Johnson, have received all sorts of accolades. They were featured several years ago by Our State magazine in a story that tracked the daily operation and let everyone in on the not-so-secret secret: They keep it simple, something you can see for yourself from one of six booths and a dozen stools just a few steps from the grill. And it’s not just Tar Heels who appreciate the transcendence of Johnson’s Cheeseburger. When Thrillist. com recently set out to find the best burger in every state, their search across North Carolina ended right here. If it’s nothing fancy or complicated, what makes these burgers so good? Claxton says it’s all about the meat — a grain-fed Western beef that he cuts and grinds fresh, every morning. Johnson’s beef was selected for its quality and marbling, how fat is distributed throughout the meat, which makes this burger tender and juicy. And then there’s Velveeta, something that’s fairly common around here, but throws some visitors for a loop. It’s a cheese product that works beautifully with burgers, providing a rich flavor that
melts completely into every nook and cranny of the beef. The final ingredient: close attention to detail, something Claxton knows all too well. He was working for his parents back on opening day in 1946, a 5-year-old delivering orders to folks parked in cars out back. Now, he spends five days a week like an orchestra conductor, standing over a large block of Velveeta, facing a compact grill. Even in the daily chaos, with grandsons Tristan and Caemon Stuart darting back and forth, Claxton welcomes guests and chats them up a bit. But he never loses track of the grill. When you plan your visit, there are a couple of things to remember. First of all, Johnson’s is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sometimes they run out of beef before closing, and it is often crowded. So, going early is a good idea (just consider it brunch). Second, the restaurant is cash only. The good news is, with burgers under $4, you won’t need all that much. Johnson’s is destination dining, with travelers timing their excursions so they’re passing through Siler City at just the right time. And even if it’s been years since your last visit, you’ll recognize the familiar taste right away. That’s because nothing has changed. After all, Claxton says, “If it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it.”
Johnson’s Drive-In 1520 E. 11th Street, Siler City no phone, cash only
Mediterranean Lamb Burger }
Town Hall Burger and Beer
When Town Hall Burger and Beer opened its second location in Briar Chapel last fall, it blew up the local burger scene with all sorts of novel ideas. Black Bean Veggie Burger. Turkey Burger. Mac and Cheese Burger. Even a Spinach Quinoa Burger. They’re all worth a try. But for something traditional with a twist, you can’t go wrong with the Mediterranean Lamb Burger. This refreshing sandwich is served on tandoori naan, an Asian flatbread, with light, Mediterranean-inspired accents — pickled cucumber, grilled Roma tomato, sautéed Vidalia onion and a nice, yogurt-based cucumber tatziki that elevates the meat without overwhelming it. If you’re not so sure about the gaminess you find in some lamb dishes, don’t worry. This eight-ounce patty mixes lamb and beef to provide a distinctive flavor, but cut the gamey intensity. Everything is fresh, and that even includes fries cut in house and bread baked six miles down the road in Pittsboro. The lamb burger is now one of the more popular menu items. Because once people give it a try, many won’t order anything else.
The Veranda, 58 Chapelton Court, Briar Chapel 984.234.3504, townhallburgerandbeer.com
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Hawaiian Burger with Pimento Cheese }
S&T’s Soda Shoppe
Granted, it’s hard to walk into S&T’s Soda Shoppe and order anything other than Vicky’s Double Cheeseburger, a staple on the menu that draws folks from miles away. But this oddly satisfying cultural fusion is a frequent special, and rumors are it may even start appearing soon as part of the everyday menu. What you’re actually ordering is the Hawaiian Burger, a thirdpound, chargrilled beef patty, topped with grilled pineapple rings, brushed with teriyaki sauce and served on a King’s Hawaiian sweet bun. The bread, alone, sets it apart, but here’s where you get a bit creative. Instead of adding American, Swiss, Velveeta or Provolone, ask for pimento cheese. Yes, it’s an extra charge and sounds a little odd, but the combo works magic. Pimento cheese balances the sweet island flavors with a little zip. Just consider it Southern Hawaiian. Whatever you do, don’t forget dessert — after all, you’re at the soda shoppe! Their chocolate milkshake can’t be beat, but there are enough malts, sundaes, banana splits and more to keep your sweet tooth happy and make this meal one you won’t soon forget.
85 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro 919.545.0007
Steakhouse Burger }
Carolina Brewery
If you’re gonna call something a “Steakhouse Burger,” you’d better come through with some serious beef and big, bold flavors. Good news steak lovers: That’s exactly what Carolina Brewery delivers. Chef Bill Heckler begins with a half-pound patty formed with trimmings from aged New York Strip, Ribeye, Sirloin and Filet Mignon, an 80/20 lean-to-fat blend from a supplier in Chicago that he’s used for more than 15 years. Then, he piles on some smoked gouda to intensify the umami, its savory depth; crunchy fried onions, because, why not?; a sweet, tangy house-made steak sauce to cut the richness; and smoked garlic aioli, an idea he picked up working in Los Angeles. It’s all served on a light, chewy, bun from The Bread Shop in Pittsboro. All burgers come with a side. Homemade chips with ranch are usually the way to go, but the Brewery’s homemade fries allow you to sop up the tasty sauces that roll off of this audacious burger. Chef Heckler calls the Steakhouse Burger “shove in your face good” and says it ranks only behind the basic Cheese Burger in popularity. If more people tried this one, there might be a new champion.
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120 Lowe’s Drive, Suite 100, Pittsboro 919.545.2330, carolinabrewery.com
Thank you
to our Ambassadors and Board for your support and service.
Chamber Ambassadors
Erica EricaSanders, Sanders, Ambassador Ambassador Chair Chair
Lana Bradley Relationship Banker BB&T, Pittsboro Branch 44 Powell Place Lane Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5793 LBradley@bbandt.com
Branch Manager Carolina Home Mortgage 148 East Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-545-3000 Erica@CarolinaHomeMortgage.com
Lisa Edmisten Community Educator Community Home Care & Hospice 108 Village Lake Road Siler City, NC 27344 919-663-1244 Lisa.Edmisten@Community-Companies.com
Debbie Hoyt Board Chair
Cindy Dameron REALTOR/Broker, SRES Realty World Carolina Properties 73 Hillsboro Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-548-3548 RealtorCindyDameron@gmail.com
Dr. Marcus Timothy Mounce Board President Chatham Transit Network 480 Hillsboro Street, Bldg. F, Suite 110 Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5136 MTMounce@yahoo.com
Sharon Dickens Financial Advisor Edward Jones 50101 Governors Drive, Suite 118 Chapel Hill, NC 27517 919-967-9968 Sharon.Dickens@EdwardJones.com
Ronda Stubbs Administrative Assistant Cambridge Hills Assisted Living A Silver Thread Community 140 Brookstone Lane Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-545-9573 Ronda@Silver-Thread.com
Sara Donaldson Insurance Sales Agent, LTCP State Farm - Sara Donaldson Ins Agcy., Inc. 547 Hillsboro Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-4001 Sara.Donaldson.CU41@StateFarm.com
Michael Whitman, MBA, RFC® Co-Founder Millennium PG* The Triangle Area 919-260-7709 Michael@MillenniumPg.com
Chamber Board of Directors 201 -201
Branch Executive Director Chatham YMCA 964 East Street, Suite 100 Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-545-9622 Jessica.Mashburn@ YMCATriangle.org
Mark Hall, Public Affairs Officer Provost, Chatham Central Carolina Community College 764 West Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-545-8043 mhall188@cccc.edu
Michael Constantino, Ex-Officio Siler City Commissioner 1102 Driftwood Drive Siler City, NC 27344 919-880-1343 ratherbfishing@ charter.net
Indira Everett District Manager | Government & Community Relations Duke Energy 4414 Hillsborough Road Durham, NC 27705 919-687-3200 indira.everett@ duke-energy.com
Bryan Gruesbeck, Ex-Officio Pittsboro Town Manager 635 East Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-4621, ext. 22 bgruesbeck@ pittsboronc.gov
Jessica Routh Retail Store Manager CenturyLink 1816 N. Sandhills Blvd. Aberdeen, NC 28315 910-692-7126 Jessica.S.Routh@ CenturyLink.com
Debbie Andleton, Past Board Chair Broker/REALTOR®, GRI®,SPS® Chatham Homes Realty 490 West Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-545-2333 debbieandleton@gmail.com
Kim Nelson, Membership Officer Media Consultant The News & Observer / Chapel Hill News 1504 E. Franklin Street Chapel Hill, NC 27314 919-829-4517 khnelson@ newsobserver.com
Alfred Devine Regional Sales Coordinator Aflac 514 E. Third Street Siler City, NC 27344 919-663-4900 alfred_devine@ us.aflac.com
Marcie Gilchrist Bank Officer | Financial Sales Manager - Pittsboro First Citizens Bank | Pittsboro Business Association 24 Hanks Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-1091 marcie.gilchrist@ firstcitizens.com
Tony Messer Chief Financial Officer Chatham County Schools 369 West Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-3626 tmesser@chatham.k12.nc.us
Victoria (Tori) Thomas Principal OneDigital | Health & Benefits 4325 Lake Boone Trail, Ste. 220 Raleigh, NC 27607 919-313-6705 vthomas@onedigital.com
Tiffany Moore, Board Treasurer Assistant Vice President | Cluster Market Leader III BB&T 44 Powell Place Lane Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5673 tsteinbrunner@bbandt.com
Malissa Byers Branch Office Coordinator Farm Credit Carolina 110 E. Beaver Street Siler City, NC 27344 919-742-2189, ext. 3000 mbyers@ carolinafarmcredit.com
Robert A. Enders, Jr. President Chatham Hospital 475 Progress Boulevard Siler City, NC 27344 919-799-4001 Robert.Enders@ unchealth.unc.edu
George Greger-Holt Board Member | Community Outreach Coordinator Communities in Schools | Chatham Drug Free 184 Nicks Bend West Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-545-5333 ggregerholt@gmail.com
Walter Petty, Ex-Officio Chatham County Commissioner P.O. Box 167 Bonlee, NC 27213 919-200-1940 walter.petty@ chathamnc.org
Kyle Touchstone, Ex-Officio President Chatham Economic Development 964 East Street Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-8274 ktouchstone@ chathamedc.org
chatham living 2017 9
Bacon Cheeseburger, Onion Jam, BBQ Sauce }
The Fearrington Granary
When you read “Bacon Cheeseburger, Onion Jam, BBQ Sauce,” it sounds like a lot of competing flavors that might not blend so well on a bun. But what The Fearrington Granary has created is a tasty, cohesive classic where every element plays beautifully together. There’s attention to detail. The beef is ground in house, a blend of chuck, short rib and brisket. Both headliner condiments — an almostfruity onion jam and smoky, sweet barbecue sauce — are made in house as well. In fact, Chef Colin Bedford says the burger’s secret is balancing acidity in the onion jam with spice in the barbecue sauce and smokiness of the bacon. (By the way, chef, why complicate the dish by even adding bacon? His reply: “Everyone loves bacon.”) The Bacon Cheeseburger is served on a challah bun with cheddar, since that pairs well with the smoky flavors, though Gruyére and blue cheese are available. Many ingredients are grown in Fearrington’s own gardens or sourced from local farms. There’s nothing unusual about a bacon cheeseburger; most burger spots have one. But this version shows how well it can be done.
2000 Fearrington Village Center, Fearrington Village, 919.542.2121, fearrington.com
“The Membership that works for You!”
531 E. Third Street, Siler City, NC 27344 919.742.3333 PH | 919-742-1333 FX | info@ccucc.net | www.ccucc.net 10 chatham living 2017
SNAPSHOTS life in chatham
afternoon at the museum
E
ver since visiting the Chatham Historical Museum on a fourth-grade field trip last year, Andrey Urena wanted to bring his family and share the experience. Today was the day. While wandering through Pittsboro’s First Sunday, a monthly street fair downtown, Andrey spotted the Historic Chatham County Courthouse, where the local history museum occupies the ground floor, and pulled his family inside. For a good half hour, Andrey acts as tour guide, leading his mother, father and two younger brothers around the main room. He begins with a timeline tracing Chatham’s journey from an isolated English colony in 1712 to its potential transformation with approval of the Chatham Park real estate development just a few years ago. As they move past the timeline and toward a wall titled, “Voices of Chatham,” Andrey’s two younger brothers become mesmerized listening to stories about historic figures in four telephone handsets. Several other groups are wandering through as well, and one of the museum volunteers is just a few steps away giving his own private tour to an older couple. They’re especially intrigued by a collection of old farm tools and how modern agriculture developed — until they spot Bob the Pig, which draws them like a magnet. The volunteer explains how the “pig doorstop,” as it’s described, survived the devastating 2010 courthouse fire, tumbling two floors during the blaze before being discovered in the debris. As a note points out, Bob the Pig “lost its nose, but not its life.” Another family is lingering at an
"Transforming lives through the power of Chinese Medicine" Private appointments and Low-Cost Community Clinic 229 E. Raleigh St. Siler City, NC 27344 919-663-1137 www.stillpointacupuncture.com
exhibit on schools and one gentleman is fascinated by a World War I uniform, complete with gas mask. It seems as if everyone has a favorite. Like his brothers, Andrey’s is the phones, because he can hear about real people’s lives in their own words. “Early African Americans” plays recollections and poetry of former slaves, with one especially disturbing story about a slave owner who whipped his slaves every Sunday morning before heading off to church. “Life back then, I knew it was hard with all the slaves and all of the work — you had to do everything by hand,” Andrey says. “But then, when I listened to their stories, there was a moment when I knew how hard it was.” It may not be large in size. But based on one afternoon at the museum, it could be huge in impact. Patty Walters offers insight for visitors at the Chatham Historical Museum.
76 West Street, Pittsboro, NC 888-643-2017 www.rosemary-bb.com
Five gracious guest rooms with private baths, free Wi-Fi, full breakfast and a bottomless cookie jar Gift certificates available for the perfect getaway. rosemary . . . for friendship and remembrance. chatham living 2017 11
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SYNERGY The Siler City Lions and Jordan-Matthews Leos make quite a team
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ost-millennials, that generation including Serving in the Shadows Sitting behind a semicircular desk with stacks of teenagers currently packing high school playing cards laying face-up, high school sophomore Diana classrooms, often get a bad rap. Despite being Mendoza looks a lot like a Vegas blackjack dealer — pretty highly connected and socially active, they’re still much the last thing you’d expect to see late on this Friday viewed by some as more self-absorbed than philanthropic, afternoon at Siler City Elementary. more connected to their devices than their communities. But here she is in classroom 402, pushing cards around You won’t hear that from the Siler City Lions. The civic with one friend who could pass for group, formed almost 80 years her twin sister — something that ago and comprised largely of clearly hasn’t escaped their notice senior adults, has forged a vibrant — and two others working across relationship with some of those the table. There’s a second group of same post-millennial teens across four doing the same thing around a town at Jordan-Matthews High cluster of student desks just a few School. steps away and a group of three The alliance between the Siler more sprawled in one corner, on the City Lions Club and Jordanfloor, propped up against low-rising, Matthews Leo Club, or “the blue stuffed chairs. junior club” as many locals call If you squint and ignore all of it, has strengthened both groups the primary colors, it might pass and the community they serve. for a casino at the Bellagio, but that Jane Wrenn, who directs the wouldn’t even be close to what’s Chatham County Salvation Army, JANE WRENN happening here. This is a service has worked with both groups and THE SALVATION ARMY project for the Leo Club where says they combine their strengths students are assembling educational to accomplish things that neither games that will help elementary could do on its own. students sharpen their math skills. You might describe it as It’s a chatty group. As they count tokens, sort cards synergy, where the whole is greater than the individual and stuff all of the pieces into plastic bags with instruction parts. “We appreciate the partnership between both sheets, their conversations hit overdrive, shifting groups,” Wrenn says. “By working together, we can get a seamlessly between Spanish and English. whole lot more done.”
“We appreciate the partnership between both groups. By working together, we can get a whole lot more done.”
At left, members of the Siler City Lions and Jordan-Matthews Leos participate in variety of fall service projects.
chatham living 2017 13
Then they’re interrupted by a piercing tone from the Becoming Invested Leos are nothing if not invested. Service projects were intercom. just getting under way for the current school year, but “Ms. Hedrick?” asks a voice. The room gets quiet, except for the rhythm of envelope last time around, Leos were involved in almost a dozen projects. Helping the Lions provide vision screening for stuffing that doesn’t skip a beat. low-income neighbors, which “Is anyone there from the Leo is the centerpiece of the Lions’ Club?” international outreach. Running “Yes!” came a chorus in reply. games at Siler City Elementary’s “The pizza is here.” annual Halloween festival. With that sensational news … Providing Christmas gifts for nothing happened. They all kept two children participating in The sorting and stuffing, not even Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. pausing to decide who should The morning after they run to the reception desk and assembled educational games at grab the pies. A good 20 minutes Siler City Elementary, some of later, the lively discussion is still the same Leos dropped by Piggly going strong and several plastic Wiggly to help the Lions collect baskets are now overflowing with JAY PALMER canned food for the West Chatham educational games. But on a desk LEO CLUB ADVISOR Food Pantry, and others worked in just a few steps away, stand four a community garden operated by pizza boxes — neatly stacked and Communities in Schools — not still unopened. a Leo project, but still one that Emy Rodas, Diana’s would-be needed volunteers. twin, looks up and spots the stack. One week before Christmas, “We need to have pizza,” she says. roughly one-third of the 34 members were standing out “I’m really hungry.” Then she grabs another plastic bag and work goes on. Right now, they’re having too much fun front of Walmart ringing bells for The Salvation Army’s annual red kettle fundraiser. It was a cold and dark for pizza.
“We don’t do things for the publicity; we do things for the service.”
Samuel, left, and Sowon Park contribute to a Salvation Army kettle supervised by Emy Rodas, a member of the JM Leo Club.
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GET INVOLVED Enjoy a great pancake breakfast that supports a worthy cause. Attend a Lions meeting on second and fourth Mondays, 6:30 p.m., at First United Methodist Church. Purchase Lions Club brooms from Farmer’s Alliance or mints at more than 40 locations in Siler City. Receive news about canned food collections, blood drives and other community events by liking the Siler City Lions Club on Facebook. Join your fellow JM students in service projects as a member of the Leo Club. Consider how Leos might be able to help your community outreach project become even more successful. Siler City Lions Club Write to 383 Eden Hills Road, SIler City, NC, 27344, or visit facebook.com/silercitylionsclub. Jordan-Matthews Leo Club Contact Jay Palmer at 919.742.2916 or jpalmer@chatham.k12.nc.us.
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afternoon, with shoppers bundled up tightly and sprinting from their cars into the store. But the Leos’ enthusiasm kept shoppers upbeat, even as the students took shifts at the kettle outside before retreating into the store to get warm. Despite their close relationship, the Leos and Lions don’t cross paths every day. Students rarely attend the senior club’s monthly meetings, except around the holidays, when the Lions bring in entertainment and welcome guests, many of them visually impaired neighbors who have received some sort of assistance. But they do work side by side a few times each year, most notably at pancake breakfasts the Lions hold to raise money for community projects. Lacy Petty, the Siler City Lions’ de facto chef who served as club president for four years, says the breakfast is a good example of the kind of project that wouldn’t be nearly as successful without both groups working together. “Most of my club, they’re older,” he says outside the Piggly Wiggly, before pausing to accept canned food donations from a couple passing by. “They can’t get around as well as they did 10 or 15 years ago. So, these kids take up the slack for the ones who still want to be active, but can’t get out and do as much.” He begins
listing examples of how the Leos have jumped in to help and how the Lions view their “junior club” as part of the family. “They’re our kids,” he says. “I love all of them.”
Working for Everyone The Lions-Leo relationship works both ways. While assembling those educational games, Leos talk about how they got involved and why they’re so happy stuffing cards into plastic bags in an elementary school classroom late on a Friday afternoon. Several mention how they get to meet new people and go places they haven’t gone before. Others enjoy the kind of projects the club pursues. Ironically, one thing students don’t mention is the service hours that are required for a school project all students must complete during their junior year. Jay Palmer, a Lion for the last seven years and faculty advisor for the Leo Club, says that can be a factor for some students, though most club members participate in so many projects that the school requirements cease to become the motivation. “Really, for most of them, it’s the friendships and a sense of purpose,” Palmer says. “And, they have a lot of fun.” But, in the end, it could be the community that benefits most.
SNAPSHOTS
Diana Mendoza, left, and Emy Rodas package educational games at Siler City Elementary to help students improve their math skills.
Zoann Adams, president of the Siler City Merchants Association, is another community leader who has worked with the Leos. When her business group started its veterans parade several years ago, Leos volunteered to help by walking through the crowd handing out free American flags to greet those who served in the armed forces. And when the association’s Easter egg hunt rolls around each year, members of the Leo Club are on hand to help get children to the right spot and translate announcements for Spanish-speaking families. Adams says the Leos have been a real asset to her projects and the entire community. “They’re a joy and wonderful to work with,” she says. “They’re so willing and happy to be helping. I just think they’re great.”
Achieving Success Others have taken notice. Last spring, Palmer accepted the Lions International Leadership Award from International President Jitsuhiro Yamada of Japan, who made the presentation while attending North Carolina’s state convention in Raleigh. The honor cited Palmer’s exceptional work as a Lion and advisor to the Jordan-Matthews Leo Club, which is recognized in Lions circles as one of the state’s top high school affiliates. Still, despite the recognition and all they’ve accomplished, Lions-Leo partnership in Siler City remains one of the area’s best-kept secrets. Palmer thinks that’s probably because the kind of service the two groups provide isn’t all that glamorous. Besides, he says, neither group is worried about grabbing headlines. “We don’t do things for the publicity; we do things for the service,” Palmer says late one afternoon, sitting behind his desk in an empty classroom on Jordan-Matthews’ main hall. “The Lions are everywhere. You just don’t see them.” ❙❚
life in chatham
coffee and connections
D
espite his lively personality, it’s easy to miss Don Byrne as he works behind a small corner table topped with legal pads, electronic devices and a medium cup of green rooibos tea. Don is the founder and joiner for Piedmont Pine Coffins, a small manufacturer whose name pretty much says all you need to know. If you Google the family business, you’ll find an address in Bear Creek. But if you want to sit down and meet with Don on most weekday mornings, you’ll need to visit his “office” in a quiet corner of Courtyard Coffee and Soda Cafe. Part coffee shop, part art gallery, part community center, Courtyard Cafe has become a vital gathering spot reflecting the diversity of Siler City. People of every age, philosophy and background stop by in waves throughout the day. It’s mid morning right now, and a group of moms has already come and gone after dropping their children off at school. There’s an animated conversation about local ministry taking place among three men sitting around one table, next to a display of mugs by local potters. (The cafe is surrounded by art studios, so pieces, most of them for sale, are featured on walls, shelves and even a chair.) High schoolers take over some days after classes, and a full-scale meeting could even arrive at any moment. It’s not unusual to find business associations or civic groups sipping on mochas and lattes while hammering out their plans. For Don, his satellite office has plenty of benefits that extend far beyond the free Wi-Fi. Taking a few minutes’ break, the woodworker mentions a group of foresters from some land development company
who drop by all the time, occasionally providing him with sales leads and insight into trends influencing his wood supply and where prices may be headed. “It’s been like having consultants sitting right next to you,” Don says. “It’s synchronicity, a nice chance to meet with people and have sounding boards to discuss business.” That’s precisely the kind of space cafe owner Joan Underwood has tried to cultivate: a vibrant, contemporary scene where everyone can not only enjoy her top-caliber coffee menu and tasty, local baked treats, but also hang out with each other and connect. “There’s not another space here in town where people from all walks of life can gather and be part of a community,” she says. “I think that’s valuable, and it’s very important to me.” Sam Zinaich and Ellie Bold work at Courtyard Cafe in Siler City.
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PITTSBORO
STREET FAIR 20 chatham living 2017
Photographer Matt Monarca guides you through the popular annual event
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The Pittsboro Street Fair draws thousands of locals and tourists downtown on the last Saturday in October, where everyone enjoys live music, arts, crafts and the kind of food that you may not eat all the time, but tastes really good on special occasions like these. But from what you hear on the street, the biggest attraction may be the sense of community that keeps people coming back year after year.
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chatham living 2017 23
Advanced Medicine - Genuine Compassion
Providing Medical Services to Lee County & surrounding areas for over 50 years • Internal Medicine • Family Medicine • Board Certified Pediatricians • Occupational Medicine
S
anford Medical Group A Satellite of Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc. (Standing Left to Right)
Glenna L. Grider, MD John R. Mangum, MD Jennifer B. Normann, MD Murali D. Pisharody, MD (Seated Left to Right)
Vaishali R. Nadkarni, MD L. Dave Nave, MD 555 Carthage Street, Sanford, NC 27330 919-774-6518
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am - 6 pm, Fri. 8am-5pm Walk-in Clinic: (Mon-Thurs) 8am-6pm (Fri) 8am-5pm (Sat.) 8:30am-12:00pm
Sanford Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine A Satellite of Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc.
Accepting New Patients Comprehensive Pulmonary And Sleep Medicine Care Cynthia J. Amster, PA-C Tamara R. Love, MSN, FNP-C, CCSH Sonal Arora, MD Lenita Hammonds Murphy, PA-C (Pictured Left to Right)
1409-1411 Greenway Court, Sanford, NC 27330 919-292-1201
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8am-4:30 pm
Sanford Cardiology
A Satellite of Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc.
Accepting New Patients Comprehensive Cardiac Care Michael J. Gillespie, MD Mahmoud K. Atieh, MD Lukas Jantac, MD (Pictured Left to Right)
110 Fields Drive, Sanford, NC 27330 919-777-9005
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8am - 4:30pm • Fri. 8am - 12pm
Mid Carolina Gastroenterology Associates
A Satellite of Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc.
Accepting New Patients Comprehensive Gastroenterology Care. AAAHC Accredited Endoscopy Center. Behnam Asgharian, MD Marion B. Pate, III, MD Robert D. McCall, Jr., MD Ravikant V. Varanasi, MD (Not pictured) Diana Martinez, NP (Pictured Left to Right)
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8am - 5:00pm • Fri. 8am - 12pm
110 Dennis Drive, Sanford, NC 27330 919-774-4511
Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc. Primary Care of Sanford Laura Baxley, FNP-C Jill Lambert, MD Dr. Frank Olivito Jessica Burgert, MD Beth Stanfield, FNP-BC (Pictured Left to Right)
1413 Greenway Court Sanford, NC 27330 919-292-1878
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Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am - 4:30pm
Welcoming New Patients Call (919)292.1878 to schedule an appointment New patient forms are available on the website: www.pinehurstmedical.com
SNAPSHOTS life in chatham
leg power
I
t’s high noon and folks are squeezing into old church pews, theater seats and several long bleachers to witness one of the big attractions at Old Fashioned Farmers’ Day in Silk Hope. The Kiddie Tractor Pull is serious business for many, an annual competition to show off some leg power and, most of all, have a lot of fun. Mixed in among some weathered veterans is Ethan Fleming, a 4-year-old rookie from Mebane, who’s visiting the festival for the first time with his brother, Ian. As competition director Lorie Teague calls his name, Ethan jumps on a bright blue New Holland TC33D tractor and waits as the sled is attached. “Everyone, welcome Mr. Ethan Fleming,” Lorie says into the microphone. There’s a nice round of applause and then, “Go!” Ethan starts with a flourish and a lurch, throwing down the hammer as he explodes a few yards down the plywood floor with relative ease. But then it starts getting hard. That’s when Ethan shifts gears. With his feet wobbling and a determined focus on his face, he locks his arms on the wheel, leans back in his seat and shoves one leg forward to full extension before throwing his effort behind the other. Until he suddenly stops. Everyone in the Show Barn roars and claps, as they do for all competitors in three age divisions ranging from 3to 8-years old. Ethan glances over his shoulder and leaps off his tractor as the distance is announced: 25 feet, 4 inches. Now, it’s time for the next contestant. The Kiddie Tractor Pull has got to be one of the more entertaining events at the annual Labor Day festival highlighting traditional rural life. Sometimes the
competition can seem a little intense, but not very often. After all, it’s hard to get too serious when fans are celebrating by waving giant blow-up dolls of Spiderman and Scooby-Doo. Even the rules can be finessed for a good cause. When one young child wants to compete, but is afraid to pull the weight, Lorie puts him on an untethered tractor and announces an exhibition pull. Everything unfolds exactly the same way, and the audience reacts with the same joy, but the distance doesn’t count toward a prize. “The category is 3- and 4-year-olds,” Lorie explains later. “But sometimes I sneak a 2-year-old in there.” Once prizes are announced, the tractor pull is over, but not the fun. Not far from The Barn is the homemade ice cream stand, and that’s about to get real busy. Ethan Fleming hits another gear during the Kiddie Tractor Pull at Farmers’ Day.
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South Eastern Karate Association siler city • liberty 919.663.2696 southeasternkarate.com chatham living 2017 25
Here They Come Russet Corner, part of the first mixed-use community planned for Chatham Park, as depicted in an architectural drawing. 26 chatham living 2017
D
on’t look now. Here they come! After years of planning,
contracting and legal wrangling, the colossal planned development
known as Chatham Park is officially open for business. What currently stands north of Pittsboro, near the intersection of U.S. 15-501 and U.S. 64, is merely the seed of a development that will swell Chatham’s current population over the next several decades. Drive to the traffic light near Northwood High School and what you’ll see now is a small commercial complex and plenty of construction. Standing on top of a hill, framed by a brick retaining wall emblazoned with the development’s name, is UNC Health Care’s new Chatham Park Medical Office, the expansion of a former family medicine location in Pittsboro that now includes imaging, rehabilitation, laboratory services and medical specialties. And in front of the medical center is another building filled with professional offices. But that’s just the beginning. Chatham Park is being constructed on land already totaling almost 13 square miles and will slowly evolve into a community compared by its developers to The Woodlands near Houston, Texas, a collection of villages several times the size of Chatham Park, but similar in its mix of housing, business, entertainment and education. When the local development is built out over the next 30 to 40 years, it will encompass about 22,000 homes, 22 million square feet of office and retail space, and even 10 schools, some public and some private. It will be home to about 50,000 people — the entire county has only 71,000 residents now, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimate two years ago — and it will have a huge influence throughout the entire region.
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In short, it will transform a sleepy, rural town into one of the area’s dynamic residential and business hubs. “I think its impact will be almost as significant as the Research Triangle Park was to the area,” says Tim Smith of Preston Development, who is developing Chatham Park with his business partner, Julian “Bubba” Rawl. “This will be an area where you can live, work and have recreation all in the same place. It will leave a big footprint and it’s going to set the standard for how developments are going to be built in the future.” Live. Work. Play. Developers describe Chatham Park as a “live-workplay” community, meaning that it’s designed to be more than a bedroom community for locals working everyday in nearby cities. Actually, something closer to a bedroom community was the idea when Chatham Park was initially conceived, says Smith. But over time, the concept matured; consumer attitudes and values were shifting, younger people started embracing a different kind of lifestyle, and those preferences were incorporated into the plan. Based on his company’s research, Smith estimates that more than 60 percent of Chatham residents leave the county for work every day, even though many prefer to live a more urban, sustainable lifestyle. “They want to be able to walk out the door and ride a bike or take an electric car to get around,” he says. “We’re trying to make it more convenient to get to work for a tremendous number of Chatham Park residents — and, really, for everyone in the county.” Despite its impressive size, there won’t be enough
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jobs within the development to employ every resident who wants to work at Chatham Park, so there will still be a steady stream heading every morning to nearby Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Cary and the Research Triangle Park. But when they are home, there will be plenty to do. Coming Soon Not everything is happening at once. Chatham Park is being built in phases — one neighborhood at a time — and construction on the first begins with earthwork late this year before buildings start to rise in the middle of 2018. First up is a 44-acre, multifamily residential community with office and retail space bordered by U.S. 15-501 and Russet Run, not far from the existing medical complex. Kirk Bradley of ECO CP Partners LLC, who is developing the yet-to-be-named neighborhood with business partner John Fugo, says their project is aimed at attracting people already living and working in Chatham County by creating the urban vibe young people want, the kind of place where residents can take a leisurely walk to the local coffee shop or a neighborhood restaurant before continuing a short way to catch a concert or film. At the heart of the new development is Veranillo, the working name for a 125-unit housing complex conceived as a modern artist colony, where people can live while pursuing their artistic pursuits — with classes taught on site and a 250-seat theater designed for live performances. That focus on fostering creativity carries over to an area called The Works Yard, a series
of agrarian-inspired buildings and small galleries where local artists can produce and sell their work. Bradley says the commercial space also will host food trucks and offer multipurpose sheds and pavilions that will become home to farmers markets, art demonstrations and a wide variety of special events. Because the entire concept is so novel and this neighborhood is the first to become tangible, it’s been a challenge to help everyone understand exactly what life in the first phase of Chatham Park will look like when residents start moving in late in 2018 or early the following year. Architectural renderings have helped, Bradley said, but many still find it difficult to grasp what he means when he talks about when he talks about a “live, work, play” development designed to attract the best jobs and create a futuristic, environmentally sensitive community. “We want to build mixed-use communities that Millennials and their parents want to live in, and they want housing, schools, art and outdoor activities all in one place,” Bradley says. “In the next 12 months, everybody’s going to see all of that start to happen, and in the next four or five years, they’ll understand what Chatham Park is all about.”
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The Impact Few doubt that Chatham County has been poised for explosive growth. Just over its northern border are Chapel Hill and Durham, communities driven by major universities and world-class medical centers. To the east are Raleigh, the state capital, and Cary, once a bedroom community for Raleigh, but now one of the state’s largest cities in its own right. And the entire region is growing. According to projections by American City Business Journals, the Raleigh metropolitan area now has 1.27 million residents and is expected to add another million by 2040, making this the nation’s 35th largest metro region. Proponents argue that what Chatham Park offers is a coherent plan that gives
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the area and its infrastructure the best chance to absorb the inevitable growth without the added problems of piecemeal development. Once the new development reaches some critical mass, whatever and whenever that might be, Chatham Park will begin to have a huge impact. Dr. Michael L. Walden, an economist at North Carolina State University, examined Chatham Park’s potential economic impact in a report two years ago, describing “significant” impacts on Chatham County, the Triangle region and the entire state. By the time the development is fully occupied, the report concludes, it will have generated 61,000 permanent jobs and annual spending of $3.6 billion in Chatham County alone — as measured by dollar values in 2014, when the study was published. Those numbers, of course, are even higher for the broader region and state. Walden estimates Chatham Park’s impact on the Triangle region as 99,000 permanent jobs and $6.2 billion in annual spending, and its impact on the state as 115,000 permanent jobs and $6.8 billion in annual spending. The numbers can seem large and abstract, but the bottom line is that Chatham Park is the kind of project that changes everything. Much of this remains decades away and who knows what forces could intervene. But one thing is for certain: Homes, businesses and entertainment complexes are starting to rise in a rural community that has been resting just beyond some of the state’s booming locales. And that means thousands more residents will be arriving very soon. ❙❚
The Works Yard
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SNAPSHOTS life in chatham
getting to carnegie hall
I
f you’re over a certain age, and maybe if you’re not, you’re familiar with the classic joke:
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice! There’s a lot of truth mixed in with the crafty word play: Nobody gets anywhere in life without hard work, without plenty of practice. Pitch Please can tell you all about it. The a cappella group at Northwood High School has put in countless hours and done a lot of hard work. And this April, they will travel to the corner of 57th Street and Seventh Avenue in New York City and walk on stage. At Carnegie Hall. Welcome to practice. Though, to be honest, it really doesn’t look like practice. Twenty minutes into rehearsal, few are actually in the music room. Some are sitting in a busy hallway on the floor, propped up against the cinder block wall with computers on their laps. Only bouncing heads and some quiet humming offer a clue to what might be happening under the ear buds. Three more are huddled around a keyboard wedged among a photocopier, Coke machine and wall of file cabinets. The sign outside says “storage,” and while they run through intricate musical phrases, they’re interrupted by loud grunts from wrestling practice next door. More are scattered elsewhere, but when they finally get a call to assemble, it all makes sense. Choral teacher Matt Hanson, who directs the group, gives the pitches, sets the beat and the vocalists are finally one. Harmonies are tight and clean, the dynamics smooth and clear, as they run through “I Was Here,” a Beyoncé number
they plan to perform in New York. For the most part, this portion of rehearsal is serious. But not completely serious. A half hour into the group phase, a couple of would-be vaudevillians start singing to each other with a flourish of awkward dramatics that draws a mix of smiles and sarcastic looks from everyone else around the keyboard. But the music never stops. Hanson, who performed a cappella at UNC Greensboro before creating this group four years ago, says he and the 18 members of Pitch Please are beginning to dream about what it will be like to walk onto stage for the performance of a lifetime. “If you asked me when I got here if I’d be going to Carnegie Hall,” he admits, “I’d be laughing.” But for now, at least, it’s all about practice. And, by the way, who’s laughing now? Matt Hanson directs Pitch Please during rehearsal at Northwood High School.
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